Topic: Pentastar JK

[RT]

Ok, so it's complicated. 

Pentastar did apparently win a little engineering regards from Wards:

http://wardsauto.com/reports/2011/tenbest/chrysler/index.html

http://wardsautoworld.com/ar/auto_versatility_nvh_hallmarks/

This is kind of surprising me: 

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/09/maserati-getting-twin-turbo-pentastar-v6/

“The Jeep is America's only real sports car.” - Enzo Ferrari.  ...Don't think even He would have ever expected a new Maserati sedan and a new Jeep to be shipping with variations of the same power-plant.   

lol, yeah that cracked me up. But Ferrari's right to an extent, Jeeps are some of the only American vehicles that sacrifice street manners for performance. Jeeps are definitely the most uncompromising American cars.

[chrisfranklin]

Ok, the computer controlled climate controll, the plastic body, the massive alloy wheels, thinner body panelling, the entire motor (3.7 v6DOHC, or 3.6 Pentastar DOHC) are both expensive and more difficult to work on than the 2.5l, 2.4l, 4.0i, and 4,2L. And are more optimized for street driving (the decision to use a v motor instead of an inline motor)  the level of difficulty of working on the vehicle is also higher, especially some of the body work when compared to my TJ. Everything on my TJ is straight up bolt on and can come off on it's own, but on my mom's jeep for example I'm going to have to take off her grill and frame guard to even get to change her front bumper. You also have electronic traction/handling control (like an FJ). The list goes on dude, that's why the new jeeps are so expensive to buy and modify. I like them, but I'll only get one used or if the price drops considerably.

I've been reading that the Pentastar in the '12 JK is supposed to make 90% of its peak torque from pretty low rpm, like 1500-1800. 

Was driving my old 4banger YJ today, and I just can't say a new Pentastar JK would bring me 30-40k worth of joy over that. 

[sharpxmen]

I've been reading that the Pentastar in the '12 JK is supposed to make 90% of its peak torque from pretty low rpm, like 1500-1800. 

i think it's VVT (variable valve timing) so you get best of both worlds, low end and top end (it's like having multiple cams depending which rpm you're at).

[RT]

i think it's VVT (variable valve timing) so you get best of both worlds, low end and top end (it's like having multiple cams depending which rpm you're at).

3.7 has VVT too, but mopar kinda half-assed it a little bit and she floated a valve at 20k. A pentastar jeep makes me have happy thoughts, but I'm still cautious because of mopar/chrysler's cost cutting mentality mixing with sophisticated technologies  . And now that fiat is in the mix I'm just having nightmares about how this thing can go wrong.

[chardrc]

wonder if the pentistar eats 2 quarts of oil between changes and is considered normal like the 3.7 ?

[chrisfranklin]

Saw this Tan JK Rubicon Unlimited today that looked like somebody had, including vehicle purchase, put about $50,000 in to it (winch, lift, 33s or 35s, racks everywhere, list goes on and on).   Should have snapped a darn photo...

Thing was parked in front of this cafe and the dude who probably owned looked like he was munching away with some chick he was trying to impress.  

Wanted to go over there and say: Hey, Indiana Jones, man, it'd probably pay to sell that thing before the '12s hit the dealer lots with better power/trannies...

But then I thought: Nah, then the guy'd be in a good position to catalog-up one of the new Pentastar versions.       So, kept my mouth shut...    

[chrisfranklin]

Reading this deal at Jp Magazine http://blogs.jpmagazine.com/6745526/new-jeeps/auto-over-manual-tranmission/index.html
They seem to be suggesting that the 5spd auto Unlimited they had drove better than the 2Dr 6spd manual...  Did I get that right?   

Absinthe

[dwtaylorpdx]

still don't understand why they are going with integrated manifolds on the new v6 engines (gm is doing the same thing) would think that would keep more heat in the head and ultimately be more restrictive and have no possibility of equal length for each cyl.

Thats exactly why they are doing it, they need the heat The AL heads let too much heat out and the ignition cycle gets cool too easy and the Nox goes up.

Dave